PROBLEM OF EVIL Flashcards
(44 cards)
1
Q
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Theodicy
A
A justification of the righteousness of God, given the existence of evil
2
Q
Soul-deciding
A
People’s response to evil decides their destiny
3
Q
Soul-making
A
The presence of evil helps people to grow and develop
4
Q
Privation of good
A
An absence or lack of good
5
Q
Epistemic distance
A
A distance in the knowledge of God
6
Q
Privatio Boni
A
Used by Augustine to mean an absence of goodness
7
Q
Free Will
A
The ability to make independent choices between real options
8
Q
What is the Inconsistent Triad?
A
- a series of three propositions which cannot all be true at the same time
- This one is: God cannot be omnibenevolent and omipotent and have evil exist in the world
- Either he is not all loving or all powerful OR he doesnt exist
9
Q
Who originally developed the Inconsistent Triad and who revised it
A
- Epicurus
- Mackie
10
Q
What is Mackie’s revised Inconsistent Triad
A
- It only applies if you believe that God is “both omnipotent and wholly good”
- If evil exists, then God cannot be both omnipotent and wholly good
11
Q
Describe the evidential problem of evil
A
- Observing the probability that a loving God would allow this extent of evil and suffering
- A posteriori: uses sense experience of evil
12
Q
Describe Mill’s view on the problem of evil
A
- Nature doesn’t give evidence of a good, loving God
- Argues against the TA, saying that nature points to a sadistic God, if any at all
13
Q
What are two strengths of using the evidential problem of evil
A
- The vastness of suffering is reason enough not to believe in God
- The suffering of innocents is particularly cruel (Dostoyevsky)
14
Q
What are two weaknesses of using the evidential problem of evil
A
- Some argue that evil doesn’t actually exist (Monists) so we aren’t experiencing evil
- Experiences of evil and suffering are subjective
15
Q
Describe the logical problem of evil
A
- Observing that evil is logically a problem because it challenges the very nature of God
- If the traditional attributes of God are true, then he would know how to, want to and be able to abolish evil
16
Q
2 strengths of using the logical problem of evil
A
- Uses a priori reasoning to destroy God without using evidential arguments
- Removes need to believe in God by showing he’s not worthy of our admiration
18
Q
2 weaknesses of using the logical problem of evil
A
- Can be overcome by changing your definitions of omnibenevolence and omnipotence
- Assumes that our understanding of love is correct, it could be developmental as argued by Hick
19
Q
Natural Evil
A
Evil which is not caused by human wrongdoing e.g earthquakes
20
Q
Moral Evil
A
Evil which is caused by human wrongdoing (e.g murder or war)
21
Q
Describe how the natural and moral evil distinction is arguably unhelpful
A
- All evil could be argued to be moral evil- Adam and Eve is what corrupted the natural order
- At the same time, all evil can be argued to be natural evil as nature made us in such a way that we can feel mental and physical pain
22
Q
Augustine’s text
A
The City of God
23
Q
Augustine’s theodicy
A
- Evil is a privatio boni- a privation/lack of good
- Evil didn’t really exist as a thing in itself, it is merely an absence of good (god didn’t create evil because he can’t create absences)
- Evil is what happened when people used their free will to rebel against God
24
Q
What is the story of Augustine’s theodicy
A
- God created the world perf and gave A + E free will
- A + E chose to sin and the consequences were original sin (pain in childbirth and shame and embarassment)
- Evil exists still because we all have OG sin and are ‘seminally present in the loins of Adam’
25
Q
2 strengths of Augustine’s theodicy
A
- Doesn’t question the nature of God as omnipotent and omnibenevolent
- Observably true that evil arises when people exercise their free will
26
What is a moral criticism of Augustine's theodicy
Why would a loving God make man pay for the sins of Adam and allow this suffering to occur
27
Schleiermacher's criticism of Augustine
- If God made the world perf, it is a logical contradiction to say it could go wrong
- Either the world wasn't perfect or God enabled it to go wrong
28
J.S Mill's view on evil
Argues that nature doesn't give evidence of a good, loving God
29
What is important to remember about Irenaeus
Came before Augustine
30
Irenaeus' theodicy
- God puts evil into world for us to appreciate good + for us to morally develop - soul making process
- Humans were not made perfect in beginning, they were created like infants who have to struggle and make mistakes so that they can eventually gain perfection
- World was never intended to be perfect- evil + suffering exists for a purpose
31
Irenaeus + the two stages of human creation
- Image- we were all made in image of God but innocent and immature, waiting for further development (includes free will)
- Likenes- we develop our likeness to God as we encounter evil + learn from it (this can only be properly capable after death)
32
2 strengths of Irenaeus
- Keeps our free will intact
- Provides recognisable + achievable goal for humanity: to develop likeness
33
2 criticisms of Irenaeus
- If we all eventually develop our likeness to God, what is the point of suffering in this world esp since some suffer more than other
- Suffering can make people lose faith
34
Hick's reformulation of Irenaeus' theodicy
- Called it the 'vale of soul making' theodicy
- If god made our world cosy + safe it would be like making a cage for a pet
- Human life- meaningful because we have to grow up
- Suffering + difficulties allow us to develop integrity, courage, compassion
- God is hidden (existence isnt immediately obvious) which makes belief more of a challenge/trial
35
D.Z Phillips opposition to Hick
Not right to suggest God not only allows evil + suffering but actually planned it into the design of the world because this then makes God evil
36
What explanation does Swinburne give for the presence of evil + suffering
- If God didn't have evil with wide limits, would've made a 'toyworld' where things hardly matter.
- A very narrow limit on suffering, we could make decisions, but our choices result in a small inconsiderable different, bc its consequences aren't true
- The less natural evil, the less we learn to avoid suffering, the less opportunity to exercise God's higher virtues
37
Strengths of Swinburne
- Upholds free will
- Observably true- those are the limits on suffering
38
Weaknesses of Swinburne
- Doesn't explain why people often choose to turn away from God
- Divine love cannot be expressed through such suffering
39
Leibniz's argument
- God created the 'best of all possible worlds"
- God argued that God is all powerful but still couldn't create an absurd logically contradictory world- a world without natural laws
- Created best of all possible worlds- not perf but best world it could be
40
2 Criticisms of Leibniz
- If God is all powerful, why couldn't he make a world which is perf
- Not v comforting for those experiencing pain
41
What is Process Theology
- God is not outside atemporal or transcendent, but rather he is immanent
- He is present with us, suffering along with us
- Because he is part of the world, he therefore is bound by the laws of physics and nature, so his power is limited. He could not stop evil if he tried
42
Who supports Process Theology
Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne
43
Strengths of Process Theology
- Encouraging to think that God suffers with us
- Explains the logical problem of evil; changes the definition of omnipotence
44
Weaknesses of Process Theology
- A God with limited power is not the God of traditional and popular theistic belief- is he even worth worshipping
- Operates on the assumption that evil is justified by the existence of good
45
Dostoevsky
- Brothers Karamazov
- Presents horrific examples of animal + child abuse + concludes this is the price we have to pay for free will + entrance to heaven
- NOT WORTH THE PRICE
